Chapter Five

“So . . . what the fuck was that?”

Within the great courtyard that lay at the epicenter of the series of tree houses that made up the Outer Sect dormitories, the three and only Outer Disciples of the Whispering Glade Sect held their usual council after life-altering changes occurred to their lives as disciples.

Although, no other topic of discussion has been this . . . momentous, Heron reflected. I mean, by the Heavens, the last one was about the addition of dumplings to the meals served at the dining hall.

“I don’t know,” Heron said, at last answering his brother’s question out of pity for the bandages that were wrapped around the boy's midsection. The healer said the fracture would be healed by the morrow yet Egret still winced at every movement he made. “But I do know that was the fastest I’ve ever seen you get folded.”

Egret frowned, yet couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “He was fast. I couldn’t even see him until he was right on me.”

“Defeated by a mortal,” Snake scoffed, running through her martial forms beside where the brothers sat. “I knew you two were behind me, but I hadn’t realized just how far.”

Egret and Heron exchanged looks of exasperation. Why must Snake always be so . . . Snake?

“I don’t know if you noticed while you were too busy looking down your nose at us, but that ‘mortal’ Awakened in the arena,” Egret said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “He even managed to use what looked like a basic movement technique just moments after his Core sparked. The barbarian would’ve kicked your scrawny ass too, he just would’ve felt guilty doing it.”

Heron laughed hard at that, thoroughly enjoying watching Snake’s back stiffen in rage. “Besides I wouldn’t go around calling the barbarian a mortal, Snake. The man looks like he might be a potential prodigy. He’ll probably surpass you in a matter of months.”

“He will not!” Snake spat, spinning around to face the twins, her fists tightening until her knuckles turned white against the grips of her daggers. “I have trained for years! My chi channels are almost finished and I’m on the cusp of entering the Chi Projection stage. That beast will never be my equal! Not now, not for a hundred years, and not ever!”

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A silence fell over the courtyard as the young woman’s shouts echoed off the surrounding trees, the twins exchanging a single solemn glance in the face of their companion’s resolve.

“You have a crush on him don’t you?”

“Shut up!” Snake screamed, launching her daggers at the brothers with such speed that the very air whistled with the passing of the blades.

Heron and Egret both barely dodged the throw, laughing all the while as Snake tore after them in search of vengeance.

“I sure hope the Elders are having a better council than we are!” Heron shouted to his brother as they dodged yet another pair of daggers that would’ve surely decapitated them.

“I really doubt that! Qiang’s even worse than dear Sister Snake!”

More laughter erupted from the pair before a ball of righteous, feminine anger slammed into the pair, knocking them to the ground in a tangled clump of curses and flying fists.

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Deep within the recesses of the inner sect, in the Grand Hall of the Whispering Tower built atop the tallest Guardian Mangrove in all of the Whispering Glade, the elders were, in fact, not having a better council than their juniors.

“Just what in the Heavenly fuck was that?”

“Language, Elder Meihua,” Qiang snapped, ceasing his pacing across the jade floor.

“Oh, do be silent Qi-Qi,” Meihua returned, waving dismissively at the other elder. "I know you’re just as shocked as I am. We just witnessed perhaps the quickest Awakenings. Not to mention it was prompted by the smallest of nudges!”

“And the density of his core!” Xiao added, the small elder grinning fiercely. “When you look at him with Chi-sight, it feels like the very rising of the sun! We might have found the answer to our recent woes!”

“A powerful disciple in our ranks with such clear martial aptitudes would certainly improve our standing amongst the other sects,” mused Meihua.

“Have both of you gone insane?” Qiang snapped, tugging absently at his long goatee. “We are far too quick to welcome a potential snake into our nest. We do not even know who this young man is, let alone where he hails from!”

“Brother Qiang, calm yourself,” Xiao said soothingly. “Young Ri Lee does not seem the type to hold dark secrets. His eyes are without guile, as open as the sky. Besides, I remember not so terribly long ago another young man that was found lost upon this Sect’s doorstep. And alongside some amazing companions, if I may so indulge myself, he forged a powerful reputation for our sect.”

Qiang frowned, teeth grinding together.

“He’s got you there, Qi-Qi.”

“Will you cease with that horrible name?!” Qiang roared, flaring his Chi as his presence grew to loom impossibly high over the other like the great Guardian Mangroves of the glade.

“Oh, you dare?” Meihua hissed, shadowy tendrils slithering over her body and pulsing with dark, malevolent energy. “You think you’re might is enough to challenge me, Little Qi-Qi?”

Xiao merely slid aside, watching with quiet serenity as his companions of many centuries began their age-old favorite pastime.

I hope that at least our juniors are having a more peaceful evening.